Twenty officers raided the flat in Ocean Way after two months of covert
surveillance. Two women in their 30s, one Chinese and the other Thai, were
detained and both now face being deported.
Two middle-aged Asian men believed to be the ringleaders behind the scheme are
still being hunted by police.
The brothel was believed to be frequented by gamblers from the Stanley Casino
complex across the road, and is thought to have been running for at least a
month before a tip-off alerted detectives.
Neighbours living in the new development, where flats sell for £250,000, today
spoke of their shock at what had happened.
The two prostitutes were found alone in the first-floor flat in Ocean Way after
officers smashed down its door with a hydraulic ram at 7.30pm on April 25.
The women may have been trafficked into the UK to work in the sex industry, but
there is no suggestion they were being held against their will.
One neighbour, a mother who lives only two doors away, said: "I know the flat
was being rented by two Asian men.
"I didn't see them much. I saw them with two young girls once, who were Asian
too.
"They kept themselves to themselves. I had no idea what was going on.
"My husband and I were having dinner with friends when we looked out of the
window and saw all the police.
"We went into the corridor to see what was happening and we were sternly told
to go back inside. They said we weren't in danger, but didn't tell us anything
else."
Another young mother, who lives on the second floor at Ocean Way, said: "I'm
totally flabbergasted by this. When they had the raid I thought it was
something to do with drugs."
Police later returned to question residents over whether they noticed brothel
clients entering or leaving the building. It is believed the two arrested women
were the only prostitutes using the flat.
Last year, police appealed for help in tracing women who are trafficked into
the city and forced to work as sex slaves.
Undercover officers led a three-month crackdown on saunas and private flats in
the city in a bid to identify victims being compelled to work as prostitutes.
Two years ago, police raided another flat at The Ironworks complex, near Leith,
which was running as a brothel with Oriental women.
A police spokesman said: "We have run an operation in conjunction with our
partners the UK Immigration Service.
"This is still ongoing and anyone who has information or may know about people
being held against their will or being trafficked in the sex industry should
let police know immediately."
